Take Action

No matter how you’re feeling or what situation you’re facing, there are always ways to feel better. And, if you have a friend who is struggling, there are things you can do to help. If you’re ready to take action to help yourself or someone you know, here are ways to start:

Talk About It: Whether you need to speak up about something you’re feeling or you just want to start a conversation in your community or school about mental health conditions like depression — bringing these issues out into the open helps everyone. You can explore the feelings, situations and conditions covered on this site to get more informed, and then find help for yourself or a friend.

Keep Your Eyes Open:We can be very good at hiding our pain. Unfortunately, holding that pain in and not getting support can lead to bad places — substance abuse, dangerous behaviors and thoughts of suicide. So if you notice a change in someone’s behavior or have an instinct that they’re struggling with something, don’t keep that information to yourself. Have a conversation with them or let someone else know that you’re worried. Here are some tips for helping a friend and some common warning signs of depression and suicide.

Create a More Supportive Community: Dealing with depression, an eating disorder, self-injury or other emotional health issues is easier when we have a supportive community and feel free to express our feelings. The Love is Louder movement was started by The Jed Foundation, MTV and actress Brittany Snow to support anyone feeling mistreated, misunderstood or alone. You can use the Love is Louder movement to hold events or start a club at your school or in your community as a way to make more people feel connected and included. And doing things to help others is a really powerful way to feel better yourself. Get started by reviewing the Love is Louder Action Kit.